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anewton's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A beautiful story-telling of two similar characters, journeying through connected and yet seperate stores, 200-odd years apart. A heart-warming ending, even if a little clique, with some loose ends left. An easy, enjoyable read, that is poetically written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Abortion, and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Sexual harassment, and Death of parent
charlie_bro's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
All in all I enjoyed this book, though I was unhappy with the main character‘s scientific ethics in regards to „keeping Eliza es her own little secret“ and generally the fact that some things seemed unrealistic - why would she freak out so much about trespassing into a clearly abandoned building (surely one would get away with a low fine) or the way the final revealing newspaper article was written (too prose-like and detailed for a news report). Nevertheless I liked the concept of the story and the writing, especially the parts of Nella and Eliza.
If you are not bothered by things like the ones I mentioned above, you might like it though.
If you are not bothered by things like the ones I mentioned above, you might like it though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment and Suicide
hiimscarletto's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Child death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual harassment
beastly_bat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Rape
sasabrina's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Rating: 3/5
Contains spoilers ahead.
"Healing by way of vengeance. But no such thing existed; it never had. Hurting others had only injured me further."
Liked the idea, not so much on the execution. It has so much potential but it was just bland. The premise was interesting: an apothecary, specialty of helping women's maladies. The apothecary started out as a safe haven for women with only good intentions, but a series of unfortunate events and betrayal turned the shop all around. And so the apothecary turned into a place treating women's maladies with ill-intent.
With the premise I expected some depth from the women characters, considering the prominent theme of vengeance and betrayal. But the main characters came off shallow without much depth. Nella, the owner of the apothecary, seemed to have a strong motive to run this shady shop, but it was getting less and less significant as the book progressed. This is not to take lightly her pains and trauma, but I feel like it can be explored more. Caroline, oh Caroline. I don't think I've ever been pissed by a protagonist before but there was just no depth, no connection with this character. Her problems seemed to be added just for the plot, for the sake of adding more complications. You know who's the most interesting character in the book? Nella's mother. Unfortunately it wasn't about her and she was just a prominent supporting role in Nella's character.
I also think that the author is trying to explore women's relationship with one another but it's vague and lack intricacies, as if it was an afterthought rather than the main theme. Although I had to give it up to the author for the twist towards the end: Eliza jumping off the bridge, framed herself instead of Nella. It was so thrilling when it unveiled.
A little more of what I like: trivia on poisonous living things, though mostly plants and insects. It was fascinating to learn, "Many good remedies are poisonous in great quantities or when prepared a certain way."
Overall, it was a okay. Read if you have free time, and like the premise (though it could've been executed better).
Contains spoilers ahead.
"Healing by way of vengeance. But no such thing existed; it never had. Hurting others had only injured me further."
Liked the idea, not so much on the execution. It has so much potential but it was just bland. The premise was interesting: an apothecary, specialty of helping women's maladies. The apothecary started out as a safe haven for women with only good intentions, but a series of unfortunate events and betrayal turned the shop all around. And so the apothecary turned into a place treating women's maladies with ill-intent.
With the premise I expected some depth from the women characters, considering the prominent theme of vengeance and betrayal. But the main characters came off shallow without much depth. Nella, the owner of the apothecary, seemed to have a strong motive to run this shady shop, but it was getting less and less significant as the book progressed. This is not to take lightly her pains and trauma, but I feel like it can be explored more. Caroline, oh Caroline. I don't think I've ever been pissed by a protagonist before but there was just no depth, no connection with this character. Her problems seemed to be added just for the plot, for the sake of adding more complications. You know who's the most interesting character in the book? Nella's mother. Unfortunately it wasn't about her and she was just a prominent supporting role in Nella's character.
I also think that the author is trying to explore women's relationship with one another but it's vague and lack intricacies, as if it was an afterthought rather than the main theme. Although I had to give it up to the author for the twist towards the end: Eliza jumping off the bridge, framed herself instead of Nella. It was so thrilling when it unveiled.
A little more of what I like: trivia on poisonous living things, though mostly plants and insects. It was fascinating to learn, "Many good remedies are poisonous in great quantities or when prepared a certain way."
Overall, it was a okay. Read if you have free time, and like the premise (though it could've been executed better).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Suicide attempt, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual harassment
lemonwrlds's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Child abuse, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Suicide
justcait's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment and Miscarriage
ninanewton's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Infertility, and Suicidal thoughts
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Unpopular opinion , there were so many parts of this book that were boring. I'm so disappointed.
The premise of this sounds so riveting but the execution just fell flat, the beginning and the end really dragged on. It was very boring. The cover of the book is also very beautiful, but this book is just not very exciting.
I finished this in two days because I wanted to finish the book in time for book club but I didn't like this very much. I read the whole thing because everyone kept praising this book and I thought to myself, "there has to be some reveal at the end that makes the boring parts of this book, worth the read." There was a reveal of sorts at the end but it wasn't good enough to warrant the book to drag on as long as it did. I really had high hopes for this one, I usually love historical fiction.
⭐️⭐️ 1.5/5 Stars
The premise of this sounds so riveting but the execution just fell flat, the beginning and the end really dragged on. It was very boring. The cover of the book is also very beautiful, but this book is just not very exciting.
I finished this in two days because I wanted to finish the book in time for book club but I didn't like this very much. I read the whole thing because everyone kept praising this book and I thought to myself, "there has to be some reveal at the end that makes the boring parts of this book, worth the read." There was a reveal of sorts at the end but it wasn't good enough to warrant the book to drag on as long as it did. I really had high hopes for this one, I usually love historical fiction.
⭐️⭐️ 1.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault
authorbrittanibee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I always enjoy a book that makes me feel a little bit stressed for the Main Characters or gets me so upset while reading it that I feel as if I need to throw the pages across the room in frustration. This book achieved both of those things for me, especially as I rounded the midpoint through to the end. There was heart and lessons learned and mysteries solved while others were just beginning to take shape.
I especially loved the two characters of Nella and Eliza. Both resonated with me deeply and I could have easily read many more chapters focused solely on the two of them. Honestly, I could easily have seen this book broken into two, the first with Nella and Eliza in the 1790s , and the second with Caroline in the present day.
The one main disappointment I felt from this book was it's ending. I just couldn't understand why Caroline would toss such an important and historical artifact back into the River Thames. I know that she said she wanted to keep Eliza's story a secret for only herself and that she didn't want the renown that might come from her divulging the truth that she was not the lost apothecary, but wouldn't that all come to light? And how was she protecting Eliza by erasing the part she played in helping Nella? Beyond this frustrating detail, I found the book enjoyable and an easy read to get throughly sucked in to.
I especially loved the two characters of Nella and Eliza. Both resonated with me deeply and I could have easily read many more chapters focused solely on the two of them. Honestly, I could easily have seen this book broken into two, the first with Nella and Eliza in the 1790s , and the second with Caroline in the present day.
The one main disappointment I felt from this book was it's ending.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Murder, Infertility, Misogyny, and Grief